TACKLING Islamic extremism on Britain’s university campuses will form a major plank of a new anti-radicalisation strategy, Home Secretary Theresa May will announce this week.

Theresa May will tackle radicalisation and Islamic exteremism on campus []

She will also reveal a new emphasis on combating non- violent extremism and on curbing the influence of hate preachers when she makes her statement to MPs, most likely on Tuesday.

It will be the result of a long-awaited review into the Government’s counter-terror strategy titled Prevent, which began under Labour. It has since been criticised for wasting money and handing cash to groups that ­peddle hatred of the West.

Ministers have become increasingly concerned by the number of students being radicalised on British campuses.

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who tried to blow up a jet in Detroit on Christmas Day 2009, had been a student at University College London and Roshonara Choudhry, who stabbed MP Stephen Timms in May last year, is thought to have become radicalised while studying at King’s ­College, London.

Theresa May will also reveal a new emphasis on combating non- violent extremism

An Education Department source said university staff would receive training in how to profile student radicals, adding: “Experts from MI6 have gone in for years but will be doing more hands-on support in the terror hot spots.

“Lonely students, far from home, are thought to be ­particularly at risk of radicalisation and targeting by extremist Islamic groups. They are to be encouraged to join societies and buddy schemes.” A senior police source said the Government had designated areas of the country as hot spots of extremism.

Funding for such Prevent projects will be awarded on the basis of a Whitehall tiering system. Areas in top tier hot spots such as Luton, parts of Birmingham and east London, will have access to the greatest funds.

Those in the second tier will get money for training, while the third tier, such as Gloucestershire and other areas largely untouched by radicals, will get basic advice through leafleting.

However, critics fear the fine detail in the strategy may have been diluted by rows within the Government. Education Secretary Michael Gove is known to want a clampdown on non-violent extremism and he also had the backing of Home Office Security Minister Dame Pauline Neville-Jones.

However, she resigned last month amid speculation of disagreements with her boss, Ms May, over whether to talk to self-elected Muslim spokesmen.

Ms May, meanwhile, has been having her arm twisted by senior civil servant Charles Farr, head of the Home Office’s security and counter-terrorism branch.

He is said to favour dialogue with non-violent extremists to stop them becoming violent.

A senior Home Office source denied the rows. The source said non-violent extremists would be targeted but individuals or groups would not be named.

James Brandon, of the Quilliam Foundation counter terrorism think tank, said: “Unless they define what extremism is and who’s promoting it, how are they going to tackle it?”